"So, are you ready to meet the maids at the quarters?" Antonia asked Naomi for clarification.
From Naomi's body language, she's not certain if that's undoubtedly what Naomi wanted, too.
Naomi may not have admitted it, but from her facial expressions, Antonia already got the answers she sought.
"Sure, let's do this,"
Naomi sighed.
She shut her eyes to seek the courage she needed to do this. She doesn't want to start acting like a clown in the presence of the maids.
"That's what I'm talking about," Antonia lauds Naomi after a passionate hug that lasted for several minutes.
She stood up and led the way as Naomi walked behind her. Until they arrived in the maid quarters, Naomi's heart didn't stop beating faster.
She was thrown into panic mode. More like she's been dragged to the dungeon for committing a big crime.
"Please wait,'' she stopped Antonia as they were on the verge of entering the quarters.
The delay got Antonia pretty upset, regardless of how she intended to hide it.
Still, she didn't yell at Naomi. She understands the assignment and won't fault Naomi for developing cold feet.
"Say it already I won't get pissed off," Antonia assured Naomi.
She's proving to be Naomi's backbone at the crucial time when she needs someone to be there for her.
"Promise me you'd protect me in this pack. I want to be assured of my safety," Naomi requested.
She looked in the opposite direction and played with her dress like a girl who's about to be wooed.
"Is that all?" Antonia scoffed. She expected a much better request from Naomi.
"I'm sorry I laughed," she apologised to Naomi.
"I'll protect you with my life. I'm sure the Alpha, my brother will do the same too," She goes further to pledge to Naomi.
She spoke with so much assurance. She said a lot to Naomi to build her trust.
It worked.
Naomi stopped panicking.
She wore a happy look after getting the confirmation that she's in safe hands.
"Let's proceed, I can't wait to meet them," Naomi spoke out of excitement.
That was the highlight of her conversation with Antonia.
Antonia loved this version of Naomi. She wished to experience more of it.
The maids were all rooted in their different chores. But the moment they spotted Antonia approaching Naomi, they abandoned their task just to stare.
There is this anticipation on their faces, as though they're seeing Antonia for the first time.
Naomi was smart enough to notice the attention she was getting from everyone.
She didn't hesitate to alert Antonia, "Look, they are staring at us for too long,"
"Don't worry, I got this. There is nothing for you to be worried about," Antonia came through for Naomi again with assurance.
"Listen up everyone," Antonia called the maids and made them stop the chores just to listen to her.
They all obeyed her immediately. No one dares to disobey her or oppose her command.
Her brother may be the Alpha, but Antonia is more fierce and respected among other pack members.
Rumour has it that she could have been the Alpha if it weren't for her gender.
The maids still can't forget what Antonia did to those who opposed her order.
The recent maid that fell victim to Antonia's wrath was Martha. She thought she was a match for Antonia until one night.
The night Antonia addressed the maids and Martha argued with her.
Antonia didn't react immediately. The next morning, Martha was dragged out of her slumber and flogged on the buttocks severely by some maids.
When the Alpha heard about this incident, he did nothing about it.
Rather, he added to Martha's punishment to warn her of the consequences of disrespecting the royal home.
That unfaithful incident sent a warning to the other maids, who were excited to do the same thing.
"Here with me is Naomi, your new Luna. She must be obeyed at all costs. Whoever is caught disrespecting her will be seriously dealt with. Are we clear?" She made the announcement to everyone.
What was supposed to be a clear message has now been perceived as a threat as everyone shivers. It was very difficult to hear their heartbeat.
"Am I speaking to the wall?
Have I made myself clear" Antonia fumed after she was snubbed.
"Yes, ma'am," Everyone echoed as though it was planned.
The fear and tension forced them to respond. None of them wants to be punished like Martha
"That's what I thought," Antonia snarled.
She focused her attention on Naomi, "Do you have anything to say to them?"
"Not at all. I'm good," Naomi replied after scanning for a maid.
As much as she wants to reintroduce herself to them, she still doesn't think it's important at this point.
Unlike Antonia, she's so eager to walk away from the quarters. She doesn't like the negative energy she's getting from the maids.
She has every reason to believe that they only chose to act right due to Antonia's warning and excess pressure.
"Are you sure about this? You are free to speak. No one will dare mess with you," Antonia kept insisting.
In the process of trying to make Naomi feel at home, she made her more uncomfortable by forcing words into her mouth.
"Never mind. I'll be fine." Naomi stood on her ground.
She refused to allow Antonia to force her to do something she never wanted to.
"That's okay," Antonia agreed.
"Now you can all return to your duty posts," Antonia authorised the maids as she walked out with Naomi.
"How do you feel now? Much better, huh?" Antonia asked Naomi as they took a stroll around the park.
She feels so proud of herself for cajoling the maids to respect Naomi and start treating her like a Luna.
"They seemed cool. I'm going to love it here," Naomi smiled.
She seemed more energetic than she was before they entered the maid quarters.
"I told you they would love you. There's more to come," Antonia blushes as they proceed with the stroll.
Antonia used the opportunity to introduce Naomi to everyone who mattered in the pack, including some elders and top-ranking pack members.
"Are they gone now?" Martha asked Theresa who was peeping through the window.
The maid quarters have been in a state of chaos after the departure of Naomi and Antonia.
While some of them asked, "Is the Alpha aware of this arrangement?"
The others argued whether Naomi has her inner wolf. According to them, she doesn't appear smart enough to lead the pack.
"They are gone," Theresa responded to allay the fears of everyone.
"She's not better than Ainar. The Alpha sure has a bad taste in women. So disgusting," Martha sparked outrageously.
She spat at the ground to demonstrate her resentment towards Naomi.
No one said a word. They all sealed their lips and watched her reaction.
"What? Why are y'all staring at me like that? Isn't that the obvious truth?" She blasted everyone
She also berated them for the lack of support. She thought they were going to be on her side.
"Wait a minute, are y'all trying to sell me out?" She barked out.
"Of course not," Theresa denied instantly.
She had to correct the impression to stop Martha from imagining a fake thought in her head.
"So what's the point? Can you explain the reason for your silence?" Martha asked again.
She's so passionate about this conversation. It doesn't seem like she's ready to let it go anytime soon.
"Do I need to remind you what happened the last time you disrespected the Alpha's sister?" Theresa Reminded Martha.
She gave a detailed explanation of what happened in the past, just to refresh Martha's memory and make her have a second thought about her derogatory remarks towards Naomi.
"Oh, that?" Martha snapped her fingers as memories of the past started to play in her head again.
"Who cares anyway?" She hissed and stormed off.
Her attitude left everyone in shock. They can't understand how she had the nerve to still repeat the same thing that got her punished the last time.
"Let's go see my brother. I'm sure he'd be more delighted to see you in this dimension," Antonia urged Naomi and the latter agreed.
There's this satisfaction that Antonia gets when she sees her brother and Naomi together.
She can't wait for Naomi to get pregnant so they can start a family together.
She never liked Ainar a bit. Ainar's pathetic background made it even more difficult for Antonia to like her.
"Don't forget what I told you. Do your Magic to ensure you get pregnant for him," Antonia advised.
"Soo soon?" Naomi lamented. "What if he sees me as a desperate chick?"
All her life, Naomi has never thrown herself at a man before. She is not about to start with the Alpha.
Not even his position as the alpha will make her worship the ground he walks on.
She may be timid and shallow, but she's definitely not a cheap whore who will beg for a man's attention.
"He's my brother. I know him better than anyone. Just trust me on this one," that's all that Antonia had to say.
She spoke for too long without actually saying anything important